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Topic: Sundarakanda - Hanuman's Story (Read 3688 times)

srkudai

Sundarakanda is a part of Ramayana. This is a "free" reveling in the story.What I mean by "free Reveling" is, I do not intend to re tell the story. Many people have already done it. What I am doing is essentially meditating on Lord Hanuman. The objective is to "Feel" the supreme State of Bhakti of Hanuman.

If we read Adhyatma Ramayana, we shall discover that Hanuman knew pretty clearly what was going to happen. Infact, even Shabari knew it all. When Rama goes to Shabari, he asks her "can you tell me where Sita is?" , Shabari should have smiled at it.She said "Lord, you know it all and yet you desire to hear from me. So let me tell you. She is taken away by Ravana. You shall meet Sugriva who shall help you in getting back Sita by going in this direction ..."She knew it all! Before even it happened.

Its not as if Rama did not know what was going to happen. He is God himself. There was nothing unknown to him. Knowing everything and knowing his own true nature very well, he was just playing his role in the movie called Ramayana -- if i may be allowed to call it a movie.

Again, it was not as if Hanuman did not know it all! Hanuman, being none other than Siva, knew it all. But he was playing his role. Through his role he illustrated to us how a bhakta should live in this world.

Thank you giving the inner meaning of Sundara Kandam. It shows our hearts are already occupied by Him. So it is not necessary to search from outside when He is inside which Bhagavan says You are bliss.Only the illusion, maya or ignorance which is called "Mind" thinks God (bliss) is outside and to search.Here Hanuman acts like a Guru to point out our ignorance.

Hanuman, estoerically, is the Guru who goes to the disciple[Sita] to tell her about Atma [Sri Rama]. Hanuman is a greatscholar, well endowed with knowledge of vyakarana and manylanguages. Before starting to talk to Sita, he pondered as towhich language he should use. If he speaks in Sanskrit, she wouldwonder how a monkey could know Sanskrit etc., Finally Hanumanstarts the conversation in praise of Rama's story in Mythili,language, a language spoken in Mithila where Sita was born.

Dear srkudai,Dasya bhavam - being the servant of God is one of the fourbhavams prescribed by Saiva Siddhantam. The other threethings, being a son, being a friend, and being a lover. Muruganarcalls it as "irai pani nitral" [abiding in the service of God and'tannizhappu' [loss of individuality.]

Muruganar says in one of his comments under Verse 414 ofGuru Vachaka Kovai:

"The destruction of the Jiva's sense of doership is irai-pani-nitral, abiding in the service of god. The loss of Jiva bodhais the loss of individuality, tannizhappu. The 'Jiva's sense ofdoing' means 'kartrutuva' and jiva bodha means ahamkara,both of which are identical.

We see Hanuman checking whether the pearl necklace givenby Sita at the coronation function, contains the mantra Rama,Rama, by biting it! Saint Tirunavukkarasar while cleaning up the portals of Siva temples, with his pick axe, found diamonds,rubies and sapphires strewn on the portals, along with the weeds.He also removed these gems and threw them away along withthe axed seeds and other small plants.

Bhagavan Ramana used to tell one story. Rama is an avataraand a Brahma Jnani too. He studied under Vasishta Maharshi.

While he was wailing and going in search of Sita, lost in theforest, Parvati asked Siva: "What! He is a Brahma Jnani. Buthe is wailing for loss of Sita?"

Siva said: "Do you think so? Then, you go in the guise of Sitaand see what Rama does."

Parvati went as Sita in front of Rama. Rama then told her:"O Hemavathi [daughter of Himavan]! Why are you here?Why are you in Sita's guise? Where is Mahadeva? Pleaseconvey my namaskarams to him." He continued walkingand wailing for the lost Sita!

I heard in one pravachanam of Ramayana that the rishis who were with Rama they also knew that Rama is Avatar. In this particular incarnation He acted and taught to human beings. He lived and showed the duties of all characters like son, brother, student,friend, husband and king to the public. He touched the feet of the rishis when He was a student. The rishis asked to serve to Lord in future. Their wishes were fulfilled in Krishna avatar. Those rishis were born Gopis to show their love and devotion towards Lord.

Regarding sundarakanda... still today whenever there is a confusion we are asked to read only sundarakanda at home. We are reading. Hanuman shows some way for our problems.